As he moved he was obliged to grope his way.
At last, however, he found himself confused as to the points of
the compass. In this darkness, he was not even sure which was
the way out.
"I'll have to use the flash now," concluded Dick.
Taking the long tube from one of his pockets, he pressed the button
briefly, giving a flash that lasted barely a second.
"What was that?" muttered the boy, with a start, as the light
went out.
Clearly enough, now, he heard stealthy steps. He was almost certain,
too, that he distinguished the sound of low whispers.
"That flash has scared the rascals," throbbed Dick Prescott.
"Now, if I can only locate 'em, and get out first! I may succeed
in getting the police to the scene before both get away. One
of 'em, anyway, I ought to be able to floor with this heavy cane!"
Transferring the light to his left hand, Dick took a strong grip
of the cane. It did not eyed occur to him to be afraid in here.
He was trying to trap the burglars as a piece of enterprise for
"The Blade," and that was all he thought about.
Suddenly there was a more decided step in the darkness. It sounded,
too, right in advance of the boy who stood there guessing in the dark.
"Halt, where you are!" shouted Dick. "And throw up your hands
as high as you can, if you don't want to get drilled! Don't try
to use your weapons, for I have the drop!"
It was sheer bluff, for the only thing with which Prescott could
claim the drop was his cane.
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